The Rouleur Podcast

As the teams gathered in Copenhagen for the start of the Tour De France 2022, Rouleur's Dan Cavallari caught up with Ineos Grenadiers' Jeff Crombie to check the reality of life as a World tour mechanic working with Shimano and other partners to give the team's riders the best equipment possible. Have wireless gears, tubeless tyres, through-axles and other innovations made his job easier or more complex? And which job does he dread? The answer may surprise you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After three days in Denmark, the Tour de France 2022 heads to its heartland. Travel day for the riders and teams and a chance for us to reflect on the opening stages - Rouleur Editor Ed Pickering joins presenter Ian Parkinson and Rouleur's photojournalist on the Tour James Startt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's nearly July and for cycling fans that means only one thing - days glued to screens, or standing at the roadside, as the greatest sporting show on earth rolls through the French countryside. And, this year, Denmark. Rouleur editor Ed Pickering and veteran Tour photojournalist James Startt look ahead to the Copenhagen Grand Depart. Team DSM's technical wizard Piet Rooijakkers tells us how he manages the technology and tactics for 500 races each year, working alongside partners like Shimano and Scott. And Australian journalist Sophie Smith, author of new book 'Pain and Privilege', talks about her 'addiction' to the Tour, and 'fat shaming' in the pro peloton.Can anyone beat Pogačar and Roglič? It's the Tour - anything can happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How green are the chemicals we put on our bikes to clean, lubricate and repair them? And how much faith should we put in claims of biodegradability and green credentials? Dan Cavallari talks the issues through with Alberto de Gioannini, founder of the Effetto Mariposa brand. His company makes high-quality tools and accessories, and eco-friendly cleaners, sealants and lubricants. Dan looks at the innovative tech behind the products, including the tyre sealant Vegetalex, made from olive waste and described by Alberto as 'like a very bad pesto'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rouleur editor Ed Pickering talks through the biggest edition of the year - The Tour Issue. This year, it's two separate magazines in one - with equal space given to the men's Tour De France and the Tour De France Femmes. There are features on race favourites Primož Roglič and Annemiek van Vleuten, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig's guide to the Grand Depart host city Copenhagen, and the story of the first women's Tour De France in 1984. And in the second half of the podcast, Ed talks to a cycling geologist with a particular fascination for the mountains and plains which make up the Tour route. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bike buyers have never had it so good, says Dan Cavallari - we live in an age of unprecedented options. But how do you choose between the brands? What makes them unique or special? And how do you establish a bike brand in such a crowded marketplace? On this episode, he talks to some of the team at Vitus, one of the smaller brands on the scene, but one with a long and intriguing history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition, host Ian Parkinson joins the Shimano Neutral Service squad on the first stage of this year's Itzulia Basque Country. He learns about the work of these unsung heroes of the pro peloton and gets a high-speed ride around the Basque hills in the passenger seat of one of the famous blue Skodas. And Phil Wright reads Passion Project from Rouleur 109, the story of how two Italian entrepreneurs started the international bike clothing brand La Passione from their kitchen table. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Cavallari dives deep into the technology behind the Hammerhead Karoo, the latest and, according to its makers, most advanced cycling GPS unit. He's in Austin, Texas talking with Hammerhead's Vice President of Product, Jess Braun. According to her, it's all about developing technology that doesn't get in the way of your ride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pro-cyclists are getting younger. Really, it's not you getting older. In the men's and women's pelotons, Grand Tours and World Championships are being won by riders in their early twenties, or even younger. Good timing for Rouleur 111 - the Youth Issue. On this podcast, Rouleur's Rachel Jary talks about her article on the lack of racing for Under-23 women, and the problems that's causing for the sport as a whole. And Rouleur editor Ed Pickering chats with Joe Laverick about the roller-coaster challenge of racing in Belgium. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's next for road bikes? Are there any more major technical leaps to come after discs, electric shifting and tubeless tyres? What's the next 'game changer'? Or will it simply be slow and incremental improvements on tried and tested basics? Cervélo have been at the heart of road bike development for years, especially through their work with pro teams and riders. For this episode Dan Cavallari gets together with three of their senior team - Maria Benson, director of product management; engineering manager Scott Roy and senior mechanical designer Robert Pike. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition, Steve Cummings joins host Ian Parkinson to talk about his new book 'The Break' and the surprising evolution of Ineos Grenadiers. And Rouleur editor Ed Pickering reports from the London launch of the highly-desirable indoor training system Technogym Ride. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So you’ve taken that (not very difficult) decision and bought yourself a gravel bike. But the choices don’t end there. What sort of tyres are you going to put on it? Smoother tread or knobbly? Dry or wet compound? And what pressure?Dan Cavallari is on the case as always, with the help of Ken Avery - Senior Vice President of product development at Vittoria. Between them, they can help you choose the right tyre (or tire as Dan insists on spelling it). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“You’ve got to love bike racing - it’s the best thing in the world”. Ben Turner of Ineos after 257 km of dust, cobbles and crashes in this year’s Paris Roubaix. Rouleur’s Rachel Jary was there and in this edition she talks us through the surprises of the men’s race with contributions from Ben Turner himself, Bradley Wiggins and Dave Brailsford; and talks to two of the youngest riders in the women’s race about their baptism on the cobbles. Ed Pickering is Rouleur’s new editor. He joins host Ian Parkinson to talk about his love for the sport and his plans for the magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pre-season crash which left Egan Bernal in intensive care has again focused attention on the safety of time-trial bikes. Tom Pidcock and Chris Froome are among the high-profile names warning that TT bikes are too dangerous to ride on open roads. But are the bikes to blame - or the natural inclination of pro-riders to ride as fast as possible, even in training? Dan Cavallari seeks the opinion of three people who know - former US Time trial champion Cameron Piper, now product manager at Specialized in California, multiple British time trial champion Michael Hutchinson and Trek-Segafredo pro Toms Skujins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even before you-know-what confined us all to rollers and turbos, more and more cyclists were opting for the certainty and controllability of indoor training. And on the road, more of us are using heart rate monitors and power meters to make our rides efficient and effective. But how do you get the best results, and what are the latest advances? Dan Cavallari seeks answers from two training experts - Neal Henderson, head of Wahoo Sports Science and Shane Gaffney, performance training manager at Swift. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.